Titanium Patek Philippe with Flawless Diamond Case Back to Be Sold at Sotheby’s (UPDATE: SOLD)

[UPDATE: The Titanium Diamond Caseback Patek Philippe sold at the Sotheby’s New York Important Watches auction for a hammer price of $737,000.]

For the past 20 minutes or so, I’ve been trying to come up with an interesting way to start this post, something that speaks to the rarity and extravagance of this watch. But, I can’t come up with anything. So, I’ll just put it this way… During the Sotheby’s Important Watches auction in New York on June 10th, a unique, time-only titanium Patek Philippe with a 9.44-carat, D-color, internally flawless diamond case back will be auctioned off.

Can you imagine, a diamond case back? Ok, so it’s not really a diamond case back. It’s a 9.44-carat, completely colorless and perfect diamond acting as the Patek Philippe’s movement display window. Normally, that role is played by a synthetic sapphire crystal, but for this one-of-a-kind Officer-style Patek Philippe (reference 3928T-001), only a diamond will do.

In addition to it’s diamond case back, this Patek Philippe has a titanium case. In fact, it’s part of the Patek Philippe Titanium Collection, which is a group of extra-rare, titanium versions of already rare Pateks. This particular watch sits pretty high atop the pantheon of special titanium Patek Philippes, since it is a time-only watch. Most other titanium Pateks feature some other complication. Plus, you know, the whole diamond case back thing.

This Patek Philippe was made in 2003, sold on November 24th, 2004 and features an 18-jewel, manual winding, Calibre 177 movement underneath the opaline white dial and Breguet numerals. So, as far as movement goes, this particular watch isn’t super special. But, like I said, it’s the 9.44 carat diamond case back and titanium dial that gives Sotheby’s ample reason to estimate the value of this Patek Philippe somewhere between $300,000 and $500,000. We’ll have to wait and see what this watch actually sells for next month. Until then, check out the details below. For more info visit Sotheby’s.

Titanium Patek Philippe with Diamond Case Back

SOTHEBY’S LOT 141

Reference Number: 3928T-001

Movement Number: 1,379,668

Case Number: 4,253,968

Movement:

Calibre 177

Manual Winding

Nickel Lever Movement

Stamped with the seal of Geneva

18 jewels

Mono-metallic Gyromax balance

Dial

Silvered dial

Titanium Breguet numerals and hands

Case and Bracelet

Brushed titanium Officer-style case

Diameter: 33 mm

Thickness: 7 mm

Down-turned screw-set lugs

Solid screw down case back set with a 9.44 ct., D color, flawless square emerald-cut, diamond